StaceyPowers

I'm playing RDR for the first time, and one thing I've enjoyed so far about it is some of the silly, random stuff I'm able to do, like play horseshoes or watch a movie. I'd love to see more stuff like this in open world games. I know GTA is good for this too. Anyone else have any other suggested games that offer this sort of thing?

Awesome, thank you!

Thank you! Very nice review :)

Yes, I love narrative-focused games. That's insightful, thank you!

Have any reference links to share? I'd like to learn more.

I'm so far very much enjoying my first playthrough of RDR, but I keep thinking about all the awful crunch time stories I've heard about Rockstar (and other companies). It really bothers me that developers are seen as "throw away" resources--and it seems like even game creators often burn out from the high pressure involved with tight release schedules. Personally, I don't mind waiting a long time for a really amazing game, and wish that crunch culture would change. What about you?

I haven't played this game, but it seems to show up in lists of games that I might be interested in. Anyone have any opinions on it?

I had no idea, lol. That's ironic. On my first playthrough, I was an Argonian, and imagined I was a foreigner. On my second, I'm an Orc, and imagine that I'm (like the Forsworn) another displaced native.

Hello fellow gamer! Where in the frozen north are you from? I've spent some time up there. I also love Skyrim and will be playing Oblivion soon. Fallout NV is another favorite :)

I wouldn’t say I’m a “bad” gamer, but I’m not really a “good” one either. I suppose I’m pretty mediocre. But as a kid, I was downright terrible, to the point where I didn’t even grasp the appeal of playing. I just watched other people with great interest instead. There were a few games I liked anyway when I was younger, but I still remember the day I was playing Quake III Arena in CTF mode online, and suddenly something “clicked” in my brain, and abruptly, I could fight. I started scoring frags like crazy, and after that, a whole universe of gaming was suddenly accessible and awesome. Anyone else ever have that sort of experience?

What do you look for in a HUD? Do you prefer them to be super minimalist, or do you like to be able to easily see everything at a glance about your status? Initially, I remember really detesting Skyrim’s minimalist HUD, but once I got used to it, I like it just fine. I also like the one in TLOU.

How are they? I actually got curious about them before the games were huge (the books came first), but they weren't translated to English back then.

Is it canon that the Dragonborn is a Nord? I always assumed the Dragonborn was just whatever race the player selects. I'm not sure I even assumed the character is native to Skyrim.

Ran into a discussion about review-bombing somewhere else, and was curious what people here think of it. Ignoring the obvious purpose of trolling in many cases (which is clearly downright negative), do you think it is acceptable as a last resort to try and get developers to listen?

Kind of a silly sounding question, but … I started RDR last night, and whether on horseback or on foot, I seem to find it hard to turn while walking or running. It’s particularly awkward on the horse, like I’m trying to steer a grocery cart. I think this may be because the game is programmed with more realistic movement parameters than a lot of others (i.e. Skyrim), but I’m struggling to learn how to move, lol. Any suggestions?

Lol, I started last night. I can barely ride, hahah. I'm terrible. Any tips? Turning the horse seems oddly challenging, like steering a grocery cart.

One of the odd things about open world games is when you wrap up most of the major quests (or all of them), and find yourself with little to do, but you’ve finally got an awesome house/family/etc, and all sorts of cool weapons and abilities. What do you usually do when you reach this point? Quit completely with that playthrough? Return to it occasionally and mess around? When I hit that point with my first Skyrim playthrough, I figured I’d pop in occasionally, and I’ve actually found a surprising amount left to do there. But I just wrapped up my first playthrough in Fallout 3, and can’t see much to do with it at this point (other than start another, obviously).

Thank you both for your entertaining and instructive advice :)

I didn't actually know this before, but there are rumors that Take-Two is developing a new Bioshock game (I think those rumors have been around for almost a year now). It seems hard to picture Bioshock without Ken Levine, since my understanding is that he has always been the series' creative heart. Attempting Bioshock without him seems ... odd, but I suppose it could be done well if it stays true to his philosophical and political spirit. What would you be looking for from a new Bioshock game? Do you think there should be another?

The smartest. You can't bring the popularity with you when you graduate, but you can bring your smarts.

I often hear fans of retro games complaining about modern games, and longing for games more like those they enjoyed when they were young. I definitely understand nostalgia. But setting that aside, if you remember retro games fondly and feel frustrated with games right now, what lessons from those older games do you wish developers would learn and incorporate into modern games?

It's the calmest I typically feel on any given day. My games help me manage my OCD and sleep problems.

Just a silly random question. What is the longest time you remember waiting for a game to download to your console? Did you regret not just buying a physical disc?

I second this. Either of those would be my first pick!

If you could magically make changes to Fallout 76 which would just instantly be incorporated, what would you change about the game?